Climber finds treasure trove off Mont Blanc

Albertville (France) (AFP) - A French climber scaling a glacier off Mont Blanc got more than satisfaction for his efforts when he stumbled across a treasure trove of emeralds, rubies and sapphires that had been buried for decades.

The jewels, estimated to be worth up to 246,000 euros ($332,000), lay hidden in a metal box that was on board an Indian plane that crashed in the desolate landscape some 50 years ago.

In many nations its a law that you have to turn "finds" over to the authorities. Many shipwrecks lay unfound under the sea that are "owned" not by the treasure hunters who find them but by the authorities that issue a decree that they own them.

In any case, kudos to the climber who made an amazing find. He gets the glory!

Usually, one gets a cu in sip wrecks, but wow! There was a guy on tv who was a recovering addict/homeless guy who found a back pack in it. There were several THOUSAND cash dollars inside. Also a laptop. He opened the laptop and finally found the guy and returned all of it to him. Nobody EVER would have known EVER. Now that is how we should all be.

I have placed over 200 food and gear caches in the back country between Alaska and the southwestern USA in national parks,wilderness areas and national and state forest areas. In 2016 when I am 60 I plan to retire and go back to just living on my bicycle and backpacking and exploring more of the wild places I have come to enjoy these last decades since 1977. My treasure is my knowledge and wisdom of knowing how to live outdoors and staying free.